Rheological Properties of Zinc Ferrite Ferrofluid under the Influence of Strain Rate and Applied Magnetic Field

Deformation of the magnetic aggregate and destruction of the field-induced structure are the main issues affecting the rheology of magnetic fluid, and this has had significant negative effects on rheological systems. The percentage of the strain rate determines how much deformation will occur. However, this research focused on the effects of strain rate and magnetic field on the rheological characteristics of zinc ferrite Ferrofluid (FF) using an oscillatory sweep test. Anhydrous iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) and zinc (II) chloride hexahydrate are combined to form the solution needed to synthesize zinc ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (ZnCl2.6H2O). The TEM analysis was conducted and shows the samples with spherically shaped nanoparticles. The XRD analysis revealed a cubic structure with trivalent Fe-phase formation. Tetrahedral site A and octahedral site B have hopping lengths of 3.61 nm and 2.94 nm respectively, while lattice parameters a and c were found at 8.3298 Å and 13.7501 Å respectively. In both the absence and presence of magnetic fields, the rheology of the fluid is studied at strain amplitudes of 1%, 10%, 33%, and 100%. As the strain percentage increases, so did the deformation's degree of distortion. Low deformation is formed at strains of 1 and 10 %, which leads to the development of an improved and better rheological systemic function. At strain 33 %, however, the rheological function partially deteriorates, while the structural deformation improves. The rheological system is significantly weakened when under 100% strain, but was strengthened when under 1% strain. The storage modulus (G′) was generally found to be greater than the loss modulus indicating the formation of the dominant elastic structure.